Frank Reich has emerged as the favorite to become the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, who are hoping to hire the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator once they have negotiated a signed, sealed and delivered contract, league sources told ESPN.

The Colts renewed their search for a coach when New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels backed out of an agreement in principle after Indianapolis announced Tuesday that he would be introduced at a news conference Wednesday.

Instead, Ballard was left to explain the circumstances in which McDaniels reneged on a deal and acknowledged there was no signed agreement.

Frank Reich is the favorite to be the Colts’ next coach, sources told ESPN. He previously worked for Indianapolis as an offensive assistant from 2008 to 2011. Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire

Nevertheless, the Colts this time are hoping to hire Reich, the winning Super Bowl offensive coordinator, after McDaniels, the losing coordinator, reversed course to remain with the Patriots.

Neither Ballard nor the team had any comment Sunday on the latest development. No announcement will be made until after a contract is fully executed with a new coach, a source said.

Furthermore, the Colts will be in Atlanta on Monday to pay their respects to Edwin Jackson, the 26-year-old linebacker who was killed in a car accident Feb. 4, along with his Uber driver, when they were struck by a car operated by a drunken driver.

The Eagles have braced themselves to lose Reich to the Colts. Reich, 56, received strong, detailed endorsements, but Ballard nevertheless engaged in an interview that lasted approximately 10 hours, sources said. Frazier and Campbell had thorough interviews as well, but Reich’s experience on the offensive side of the football was considered an advantage.

Philadelphia could wind up losing Reich and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, who was hired as the Minnesota Vikings‘ offensive coordinator Friday.

Reich, a former quarterback, began his coaching career in 2006 as an intern with the Colts and eventually was promoted to coach the quarterbacks and wide receivers until 2012, when he left to become the wide receivers coach for the Arizona Cardinals for one year. In 2013, he was hired by the Chargers as their quarterbacks coach and became the team’s offensive coordinator the following year, before joining the Eagles in 2016.